With contributions from Cheryl Strayed and Roxane Gay, this is a commonplace book of tattoos. Everybody’s story is illustrated – both on their skin and in this book. I have to say, most of them are not happy stories. Death, divorce, and depression seem the reason for many tattoos. But they do come at a turning point in people’s lives, at a point when you can hope that better days are ahead. This is a special book. Like the tattoos, the struggles and hopes of these people are permanent and, often, hidden. So it’s a privilege to be let into their lives.

My own tattoo came at a turning point. It wasn’t at the beginning of my divorce, and it wasn’t at the end – I’m not sure that sort of thing has a defined end. Rather, it came at the end of the beginning. At the point when the most of the darkest days were behind me and I could at least imagine things getting better even if it didn’t feel like it right then. “miserere mei deus – have mercy on me O God.” It’s the opening line of Psalm 51 and among the most brilliant pieces of music in history. Today it feels like we all only get one chance. One true love; you only live once; and if you screw up, the web remembers forever. So perhaps we could all do with a little mercy. A little second chance. She and I couldn’t make it work. But I’ve given myself a permanent reminder that do-overs are indeed possible in life.